Cocoa, maple and peanut butter energy balls are a healthy and delicious snack to have around the house. The protein from the peanut butter helps to give your body protein so the muscles can continue to build, strengthen, and maintain. Maple syrup contains an abundant amount of naturally occurring minerals such as calcium, manganese, potassium and magnesium. And like broccoli and bananas, it’s a natural source of beneficial antioxidants. Cocoa powder has even more of the substances responsible for chocolate’s health benefits, and unsweetened cocoa has the advantage of being low in calories. It also contains essential minerals that support your heart, bones and immune system. Enough reasons to make these?

I started creating my own little energy bites and trail mixes to bring with me anywhere I went. Not only are they a life saver, but they also help me make better food choices (instead of reaching for junk food).

This recipe can be easily altered too. So versatile, just add in what you want – coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, chia, flaxseed, dried fruit, and the list goes on. Replace peanut butter with almond butter and maple syrup for honey. Roll balls in matcha tea, hemp seeds, or coconut flakes. Get creative!

Whether you’re hungry during the day, going on a road trip, or need a snack for the kiddos, these are a great go-to! Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Making this recipe is SO simple. In a large bowl, you mix together 1 cup peanut butter and 1/2-1 cup of maple syrup. Add 1/2 - 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and stir. Now the fun begins-continuing to add what you want to make it your very own energy ball to your taste. Stir until well combined. (if too sweet then add more peanut butter or too wet add more cocoa powder. Roll into bite-sized balls using your hands. You will make a mess but be okay with that. Then eat or store in a container with a lid! Will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. If you’re like me, you may find yourself hungry even when it’s not around meal times.

Maple Bourbon Cocktail with PearThis pear bourbon cocktail smashes together overripe pears with maple syrup, Cinnamon Maple Sugar, and bourbon to make a great Holiday cocktail.

Serves: 2 drinks

Ingredients

1 very ripe pear

3 oz bourbon

1 oz Justamere's maple syrup

½ oz lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract, or the seeds scraped from ⅓ of a vanilla beanJustamere's Cinnamon Maple Sugar to top office

DirectionsSlice the pear in half. Scoop out any overly squishy pulp along with the seeds and stem. Roughly dice the pear and put it in a medium bowl. Mash the pear with a fork or a potato masher. Transfer the pear to a fine mesh strainer set over a wide mouthed measuring cup or another bowl. Press the pear pulp against the strainer to get as much of the juice out as possible, along with some of the pulp.

Once you have the pear juice add the rest of the ingredients except for Cinnamon Maple Sugar, along with some ice, and stir vigorously to mix. Fill two glasses with more ice and divide the drink between them. Sprinkle with Cinnamon Maple Sugar! Enjoy!

If you’ve been wondering how to make homemade Peppermint Patties this is the recipe for you! With only 4 ingredients, all you need to make this healthy Peppermint Patty recipe is coconut oil, dark chocolate, maple syrup, and peppermint extract.

Making your own Peppermint Patties is easy! Just a few simple ingredients and you’ll love the results. NO thermometer involved. They taste SO much better than store bought! My husband scarfed these down. I recommend making a double batch! They are gluten free and vegan. Does it get any better than that?

DirectionsMix with hand blender or mixer - coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and peppermint extract until smoothPlace mixture in freezer for about 15-20 minutesOnce this mixture is firm enough to handle roll into 10-12 small balls and flatten into a disc. The discs will not be perfectly shaped, which is fine. They will have the homemade look to them.Place discs back into the freezer for about 15 minutes.Remove from freezer and dip each disc into melted chocolate. Place on wax paper. Store in the refrigerator.

A Healthy Way To Start Your Day With Pumpkin!

Pumpkins aren't just for carving!

At the farm we start everyday with pancakes, we hardly ever get sick of them, that being said we're always looking for new ways to spice things up a bit. Typically I look for fun seasonal ways to naturally enhance the nutritional value of our pancake mix. Pumpkins are a sure sign of fall and they always remind me of the crisp fall weather and the harvest. Pumpkin, and we're talking real pumpkin not flavoring, helps with joint health, it's an anti-inflammatory, full of Vitamin C which boosts immunity and will help your skin maintain a healthy glow! If that wasn't enough you'll find high levels of magnesium, zinc and potassium in pumpkin.Enjoy the pumpkin in these delicious pancakes

InstructionsMix the dry ingredients into a bowlMix with hand beater, puree, egg, milk, and butter till thoroughly mixed in it's own bowl.Combine dry with wet. Do not over mix.Proceed to make pancakes and don't forget the maple syrup drizzled over the top!

My Sweet Life

Staying healthy, happy and well fed, with maple

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Welcome to my sweet space. I am a gardener, a cook, a farmer and a lover of food from the ground up. This is a collection of over 30 years of personal experience gluten free baking, refined sugar free cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. I hope you enjoy nourishing your taste buds as much as I do.